Prayer vase



Feb. 28, 1928.

B. F. MURPHY PRAYER VASE Filed Dec. 6, 1926 mul =' i' giiilllllllllbINVENTOR f//S ATToRNEs, l

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Patented F eb. 28, 1928. y

BARRY F. `IWTFJRII'IY,,OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

rnaynn VASE.'

Application filed December 6,1926. Serial No. 153,027.'

This invention relates to rreligious auaili-v aries in general, but inparticular to` a devotional accessory which may be termed a prayer vase,and the object of the invention is to provide such an accessory which,will assist in the devotions of a person at prayers and theconcentration by providing in special arrangement an illuminated seriesof prayers surmoun ted preferably by an illumi nal'ed representation ofa patron ksaint'of the devotee and the individual prayers of the seriesto be successively more brightly illuminated by a gradual change in therelation of the illuminating means thereto, and all of the above of aconstruction which will provide for easeiof manufacture while talringcare of alarge number of illuminated designs and at the sametime presenta linished structure which will be acceptable to the church as a properand dignified part of its equipment.

In the drawings accompanying this application I show the preferred formof my inventioiu tho it will be manifest that it .mayy r take otherforms within the scope of the appended claims.`

Figure l is a perspective view of my prayer vase shown complete withtaper burning at the level of the oil, andL Figure Q is a sectionalelevation of one side wall and bottomof the vase showing theconstruction thereof and also the means for' centralizing the taperwithin the vase,`

In further detail the drawings show a rectangular vase provided with aglass front l, glass sides 2 and a rear wall 3 preferably of white glassporcelain7 vor silvered glass,

tho if silvered it should have a frosted surface soy as not toconstitute a plain mirror.

In actual construction the front and side 7alls may be double, of twosheets of glass, one sheetbearing a transparenter translucent religiousdesign and the other being a protective sheet covering the design, all

sides, bottom, and upper edges being bound preferably with a lead orother soft metal j strip as at t, 5 and 6 cemented to the glass platesso as to make the joint oil tight.

'Centrally upon the bottom plate 7 is cemented a ring 8 and over whichring loosely stands an inverted funnel-like pedesi tal 9 provided withan upwardly extending neck 10 in which is supported a taper 1l.

The taper l1 is preferably of round crossseotion, is rigid enough tostand vertical and sively lower inscriptions or prayers.

pedestal may be loweredinto or removed from the vase by holding theupper end of lthe taper in the fingers orin a tweezer.

As a feature of this invention the front panel l and sides 2areinscribed with suc-` cessive vparcels of religious datal such asprayers, and preferably on the front panel the prayers are surmountedwith the picture of a religious leader such as one of the` saints 14.-.The picture and prayers are of a nature so as to be illuminated by alight from within the vase, and may bepainted or printed upon the glassvor photographically or otherwise tra-nsfcrredor impressed on one of thedouble sheets of glass 2 2 and cov-e ered with ythe other.` i j In use7the prayer vase is filled about four fifths with a heavy oil 13 `such asspermor a mixture of similar non-flashing properties, of a depth so.that the taper 11 just projects above the level of the oil and the taperis then lighted. Y Y

The oil being of a colored and heavy nature will cause the flame to morestrongly illuminatel the inscriptions on `thevase above the oil level asindicated in Figure 1 of the drawing while the gradualr lowering of theoil level and rburning down of the taperin thesame proportion willgradually unfold as'it were, or successively*illuminate'succes- The rearwall 3 o'c the vase being in the nature of a reflector'will .throw theillumination forward and sidewise for rmore eifectively lighting theinscriptions in the front; and side walls.V f

A vase of this kind Yhas been found Vto be a'great aid towardconcentration of one at f 'a steady even illumination ofthe subjectmatter while gradually unfolding successive matter pertinentto thevreligious observance at issue. Y

yI claim: n i Y l. A prayer `vase provided with lighty transmittingwalls and inscriptions thereon arranged/one above the other, a source oflight and a reflecting surface within said vase arranged to descendslowly to successively illuminate saidv inscriptions one below another.v v

2. A prayer vase provided with light transmitting walls and religiousinscriptions thereon arranged one above the other, a unitary lightemitting` source and a reflecting surface within said vase arrangedtedescend slowly to successively illuminate said inscriptions one belowanother, said inscriptions includingl a picture of a religious leader atthe upper` portion ot one 'of the sides arranged Jfor illuminationbefore' the remainder of the inscription on that side.

3. A prayer vase provided with light transl-uiting walls andinscriptions thereon arranged one above the other, a single source oflight and` a relectingsurt'ace within said vase arranged to deseendslowly to sucessively illuminate said inscriptions one below another,said vase having a portion of 'its vertical wall made internally lightreflecting..

4i. A prayer vase provided with light transmitting wallsandiniscriptions thereon arranged one above the other. a unitary lightirnitting Source and a body et heavy oil within said vase feeding saidlight both arranged to slowly lower and successively illuminate saidinscriptions one below another above t-he surface of said oil, said vasehaving substantiallyv 'Hat vertical walls and one'oi said walls onlyprovided with an inwardly light reflecting surface. f

5. A prayer vase provided with light transmitting walls and inscriptionsthereon arran'ged one above the other, a unitary 'light emitting sourceand a body'o'f heavy oil within said vase feeding said light botharranged to slowly lower and successively illuminate said inscriptionsone below another above the surface of said oil, said va-se havingsubstantially fiat vertical walls joined by sottmetal strips cementedthereto.

x 6. A prayer vase .provided with light transn'iittingwalls andinscriptions thereon arranged one above the other, a unitary lightemitting source and a body of heavy oil within said vase arranged toslowly descend to successively illuminate said inscriptions one belowanother, said vase having substantially flat vertical walls joined bysoft metal strips cemented thereto and a similar strip covering theupper edges ot' the vase.

7. A prayer vase adapted to hold oil and provided with locating means onthe upper side ot its bottonnand a taper supporting pedestal formed iorlocation within and on the bottom of the vase by said means.

8. A prayer vase adapted to hold oil and provided with a locating deviceprojecting above its bottom, and a taper supporting pedestal formed toengage said device for location thereby.

9. A prayer vase adapted to hold oil and' provided with a locating ringprojecting -above its bottom, and a taper supporting pedestalformed'like an inverted funnel to engage said device for locationthereby.

10. A prayer vase adapted to hold oil, a pedestal supporting avertically disposed taper therein, said pedestal resting on the bottomof the vase and means for positioning said pedestal in said vase.

BARRY F. MURPHY.

